Sport

Basildon & Phoenix Swimming Club star Brooke wins medal haul

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Brooke Frost had an inspired meeting at the national age group swimming championships in Sheffield.

The Basildon & Phoenix Swimming Club star, who turns 14 later this month, came home from Ponds Forge with a full set of medals.

She finished second in her favourite event, the 200m backstroke, to win a British silver medal and – as the race winner was from Scotland – Brooke was also presented with the English gold medal.

The Beauchamps School pupil completed her set of medals by winning bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Dad Richard Frost said: “We are very proud of her, big time! She knocked nearly three seconds off her personal best in the 200m backstroke and that is something. She has also been called into the England Talent Programme for the second year running and that is fantastic.”

Brooke lowered her PB in the 200m backstroke to a time of 2m 20.70s and swam 1m 6.15s in the 100m backstroke final.

She has been swimming at Basildon & Phoenix since the age of nine and her dad says she has aspirations to follow in the footsteps of some of the swim stars who have shone at the Commonwealth Games in recent weeks.

“Whenever you ask her she says she wants to swim at the Olympics and represent her country,” said dad Richard.

“And she is in a great place to learn at Basildon. She trains eight times a week at the Sporting Village with her coach Doug Campbell who was a former coach of the Scottish national team.

“The facilities at Basildon are at the top level and so is the coach.”

Brooke actually qualified to race in seven events at the nationals and opted to swim four of those: the 200m and 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly.

She was one of five swimmers from Basildon & Phoenix who qualified to compete at Sheffield.

Harvey Jolly competed in the 100m freestyle and made the final coming home 10th in a PB of 57.67s.

Harvey then joined club-mates Harry Nicholls, Vincent Melo-Peet and Tyler Berry to compete in the relay. It was the first time Basildon & Phoenix had a team qualify for the finals and they finished in a creditable 37th place.